Police Search For Gunman Who Shot Teens, 88-Year-Old Man

Arthur Bridgeford was sitting in his favorite easy chair at his home in the 7000 block of South Parnell Avenue when a gunman opened fire on two teenagers and one of the bullets struck Bridgeford in the arm. One of the teenagers died, the other was wounded. (Credit: CBS)

CHICAGO (CBS) — Police in the Englewood neighborhood continue their search for the drive-by gunman who killed an 18-year-old man, and wounded another teen and an 88-year-old bystander.

Neighbors say the two teens were returning from a trip to a grocery store at 71st Street and Parnell Avenue, a block from their home, when the gunman opened fire, then sped away.

Police say he teen who died, identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office as Theodore Thomas, was shot in the chest. He was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County after the shooting and was later pronounced dead there.

The 17-year-old boy was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, after neighbor Cassandra Hobbs saw him holding his side as he bled on the front porch of his home nearby.

Arthur Bridgeford, 88, was wounded n the shooting as he sat in his favorite easy chair. People called in the neighborhood him “Pops” and, at the time of the shooting, he was simply passing the time as he normally did, according to daughter Kimberly Carter.

“That’s, that’s … I don’t know,” said. “He should have been able to, you know, just sit on the porch.”

Hobbs said the shooting was not the first in her neighborhood this month. She said a woman was shot in the chest July 4 but survived.

She said that she rarely allows her children out to play because of the violence in the neighborhood, but said she had relented because of the heat and had let them outside to play in a sprinkler about five minutes before the shootings took place.

Hobbs said the girls, ages 4, 5 and 9, ran inside when the gunfire began and told the adults, who did not hear the initial shots being fired.

“It’s not right,” she said.

Hobbs said Mayor Rahm Emanuel campaigned on a platform of more police patrols. She said her neighborhood needs them.